Perched on a small hill in the village of Ganahena on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, this villa pairs colonial Dutch and Portuguese architecture with modern tropical design. Owner Mark Smoot, a semi-retired landscape architect, purchased the first of six plots of land, which would eventually make up the 26,910-square-foot property, in 2004. 'It was six months before the tsunami,' says Mr. Smoot, who only revisited the island two years after the Dec. 26, 2004, disaster.

Perched on a small hill in the village of Ganahena on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, this villa pairs colonial Dutch and Portuguese architecture with modern tropical design. Owner Mark Smoot, a semi-retired landscape architect, purchased the first of six plots of land, which would eventually make up the 26,910-square-foot property, in 2004. 'It was six months before the tsunami,' says Mr. Smoot, who only revisited the island two years after the Dec. 26, 2004, disaster.

The initial 3,832-square-foot plot of land he bought had a dilapidated 19th century bungalow with crumbling walls and a roof that had partially caved in. Now fully restored, it features the original colonial Dutch and Portuguese architecture with Tuscan-style verandah columns. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom structure is named the Sergeant's Bungalow, because it once belonged to a local Sri Lankan police sergeant.

The initial 3,832-square-foot plot of land he bought had a dilapidated 19th century bungalow with crumbling walls and a roof that had partially caved in. Now fully restored, it features the original colonial Dutch and Portuguese architecture with Tuscan-style verandah columns. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom structure is named the Sergeant's Bungalow, because it once belonged to a local Sri Lankan police sergeant.

The Sergeant's Bungalow has colonial-style furnishings, polished cement flooring, and a mix of alabaster and hand-beaten brass wash basins in the bathrooms. 'I turned what was ready to fall down into something quite wonderful,' says Mr. Smoot, who has previously restored old Georgian and Victorian homes in Cape Town when he was living in South Africa.

The Sergeant's Bungalow has colonial-style furnishings, polished cement flooring, and a mix of alabaster and hand-beaten brass wash basins in the bathrooms. 'I turned what was ready to fall down into something quite wonderful,' says Mr. Smoot, who has previously restored old Georgian and Victorian homes in Cape Town when he was living in South Africa.

The owner expanded the size of the property over the years and subsequently bought five additional surrounding plots to create one large parcel. 'I thought I'd have a little holiday house in Sri Lanka close to a nice beach, coming back and forth from Dubai [at the time],' Mr. Smoot says. 'Now I've got a place big enough to be a boutique hotel.'

The owner expanded the size of the property over the years and subsequently bought five additional surrounding plots to create one large parcel. 'I thought I'd have a little holiday house in Sri Lanka close to a nice beach, coming back and forth from Dubai [at the time],' Mr. Smoot says. 'Now I've got a place big enough to be a boutique hotel.'

The 6,781-square-foot home has a total of five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and comprises a bungalow and two pavilions. The latter, consisting of a double-level pavilion and a bedroom pavilion, plus the swimming pool, was designed by the owner, with the help of an architect friend. The pavilions were built over a period of three years. Mr. Smoot says he was inspired by many places 'from Nepal to Thailand,' but he also wanted it to 'feel as though it still belonged in Sri Lanka.'

The 6,781-square-foot home has a total of five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and comprises a bungalow and two pavilions. The latter, consisting of a double-level pavilion and a bedroom pavilion, plus the swimming pool, was designed by the owner, with the help of an architect friend. The pavilions were built over a period of three years. Mr. Smoot says he was inspired by many places 'from Nepal to Thailand,' but he also wanted it to 'feel as though it still belonged in Sri Lanka.'

'I wanted to design my own personal resort -- for myself and for my friends,' Mr. Smoot says. In July 2012, he started renting out the two bedroom pavilions and bungalow, either separately or as one guesthouse. Rental rates for the entire home during peak season start at $1,400 per night.

'I wanted to design my own personal resort -- for myself and for my friends,' Mr. Smoot says. In July 2012, he started renting out the two bedroom pavilions and bungalow, either separately or as one guesthouse. Rental rates for the entire home during peak season start at $1,400 per night.

The open-sided pavilion for dining and lounging, shown here, has carved timber beams and columns, and high ceilings. It is wrapped on three sides by the swimming pool to create a natural cooling effect, whereby the air moving over the water is cooled before it enters the pavilion.

The open-sided pavilion for dining and lounging, shown here, has carved timber beams and columns, and high ceilings. It is wrapped on three sides by the swimming pool to create a natural cooling effect, whereby the air moving over the water is cooled before it enters the pavilion.

The swimming pool features locally sourced granite paving and edges. One of Mr. Smoot's favorite spots is the edge of the pool, where he can look down at the water-lily pond, which is three meters below and replete with fish, water birds and turtles.

The swimming pool features locally sourced granite paving and edges. One of Mr. Smoot's favorite spots is the edge of the pool, where he can look down at the water-lily pond, which is three meters below and replete with fish, water birds and turtles.

The swimming pool features locally sourced granite paving and edges. One of Mr. Smoot's favorite spots is the edge of the pool, where he can look down at the water-lily pond, which is three meters below and replete with fish, water birds and turtles.

The swimming pool features locally sourced granite paving and edges. One of Mr. Smoot's favorite spots is the edge of the pool, where he can look down at the water-lily pond, which is three meters below and replete with fish, water birds and turtles.

Above the dining and lounge pavilion is the sea-view pavilion, which has a hunting lodge theme with hand-carved bedside tables and antiques from places like Rajasthan. The sea-view pavilion consists of a bedroom, living area, balcony and bathroom.

Above the dining and lounge pavilion is the sea-view pavilion, which has a hunting lodge theme with hand-carved bedside tables and antiques from places like Rajasthan. The sea-view pavilion consists of a bedroom, living area, balcony and bathroom.

A small building behind the bungalow, which was roofless for more than 40 years, was transformed into the massage room. Mr. Smoot kept the original stone, coral and mud walls, which he sprayed with resin to keep fine dust particles from breaking loose. 'I am happy with the results of that because you see the old stones that are a couple of hundred years old,' he says.

A small building behind the bungalow, which was roofless for more than 40 years, was transformed into the massage room. Mr. Smoot kept the original stone, coral and mud walls, which he sprayed with resin to keep fine dust particles from breaking loose. 'I am happy with the results of that because you see the old stones that are a couple of hundred years old,' he says.

The lush manicured gardens have more than 30 species of palms and cycads and are dotted with decorative stone fountains and ponds. They are also home to numerous native birds including magpie robins, bulbuls and kingfishers.

The lush manicured gardens have more than 30 species of palms and cycads and are dotted with decorative stone fountains and ponds. They are also home to numerous native birds including magpie robins, bulbuls and kingfishers.

Located in the district of Galle, the home is a few hundred feet from Unawatuna Beach, one of the island's most popular attractions, and a few miles from the historic Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'It is between the communities of Unawatuna and Talpe,' says Mr. Smoot, who describes the former area as bohemian and the latter as posh.

Located in the district of Galle, the home is a few hundred feet from Unawatuna Beach, one of the island's most popular attractions, and a few miles from the historic Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'It is between the communities of Unawatuna and Talpe,' says Mr. Smoot, who describes the former area as bohemian and the latter as posh.

Mr. Smoot says he is selling the property because he is 'nearing' 60 years old and doesn't 'want the responsibility of running a guesthouse' -- he would like to spend his retirement traveling and exploring new places after it is sold. He also thinks that the home would be better suited as a private home.

Mr. Smoot says he is selling the property because he is 'nearing' 60 years old and doesn't 'want the responsibility of running a guesthouse' -- he would like to spend his retirement traveling and exploring new places after it is sold. He also thinks that the home would be better suited as a private home.

The home was first put on the market in July 2013 for $2 million, which Mr. Smoot says was 'probably too high for the current market.' The price, which is negotiable, has been lowered to $1.7 million and is listed with Lanka Real Estate agent Ivan Robinson. Most of the major furnishings, except for the artwork, paintings and some items with sentimental value to the owner, are included in the price.

The home was first put on the market in July 2013 for $2 million, which Mr. Smoot says was 'probably too high for the current market.' The price, which is negotiable, has been lowered to $1.7 million and is listed with Lanka Real Estate agent Ivan Robinson. Most of the major furnishings, except for the artwork, paintings and some items with sentimental value to the owner, are included in the price.